Daicel Corporation Introduces DURACON® POM Line with 30% Recycled Content

Osaka, Japan – Daicel Corporation's High Performance Polymers (HPPs) business unit, formerly Polyplastics Co., Ltd., has introduced four new grades of DURACON® POM (polyoxymethylene) incorporating 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. This new PCR-POM offering includes standard, low-VOC, sliding, and reinforced grades, allowing customers to select materials tailored to their application needs.

The new grades were first unveiled at CHINAPLAS 2026 in Shanghai during April. The standard PCR-POM grade exhibits a flow index of 9. The low-VOC materials meet original equipment manufacturer (OEM) requirements, while the sliding grade provides enhanced slip properties, and the reinforced material matches the performance of virgin POM grades.

Since 2023, Daicel has offered its DURACIRCLE® repurposing service, which recycles plastic waste collected from customer production plants. While previously focused on post-industrial recycling (PIR) of manufacturing byproducts, the new PCR-POM utilizes POM materials that have already been used in the market as recycled raw material.

A key challenge in utilizing PCR materials is their property variability and the need for consistent quality. Daicel's extensive experience in formulation and quality control technologies ensures that key mechanical properties remain comparable to conventional materials, even with 30% recycled content, based on internal testing. DURACON® POM is widely adopted across automotive, precision component, and machinery sectors for its high mechanical strength, rigidity, wear resistance, and dimensional stability.

Daicel is conducting further development to expand its PCR-POM offerings and meet a wider range of market demands.